Revisiting Middle East roadmap for peace

Although German diplomats say their presidency plans "no new initiatives" on the Middle East, the region will feature prominently on the agenda in the next six months.

In part this will be a necessity - to avoid violence in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories and conflict between Syria and Israel. But it is also because German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has made Germany an integral part of the diplomatic machinations in the region.

Since taking office in November 2005, Steinmeier has travelled to the Middle East six times. In particular he has worked hard, although not always successfully, to keep open diplomatic channels with Syria.

With Germany holding the presidencies of the EU and the G8 simultaneously, there is a sense that the country has an opportunity to restart the peace process and direct talks between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Chancellor Angela Merkel recently spoke of Germany’s wish to "revive" the EU-backed roadmap for peace in the Middle East. German plans to resurrect the text, which calls for a negotiated two-state solution, was the chief item on the agenda of Steinmeier’s recent visit to Washington.

Afghanistan is also set to figure prominently on the EU’s agenda in the coming months. A fact-finding mission will report in January on what the EU can do to assist the Afghan government in establishing law and order. EU police and rule-of-law missions are under consideration, signalling a dramatic increase in the EU’s political involvement in the country. But the missions could throw up a number of problems for the German presidency over how the EU co-ordinates with NATO and US.

Berlin has already suggested that an expanded meeting of the Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board, which brings together the Afghan government and representatives of international community, be held in January to discuss the issue.

Although German diplomats say their presidency plans "no new initiatives" on the Middle East, the region will feature prominently on the agenda in the next six months.